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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Browne's debutant shows plenty of sparkle

Wed 21st Dec 2022, 18:53

Diamondsareforever beats Blue News Diamondsareforever beats Blue News
© Photo Healy Racing

Willie Browne did well this year with smart juvenile Spirit Gal, who landed the Listed Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk in September, and the Fethard handler introduced another promising type in the shape of Diamondsareforever who made a winning debut in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Race.

Not unsupported in the market(16s into 10s before the off), the towering daughter of Justify tracked the leaders on the outer and picked up gradually in the straight to head Blue News in the final furlong. She stayed on well to beat that rival, who was finishing second for the fourth time in five starts, by a length and three quarters.

The homebred winner is out of Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies.

Browne said: "She's huge, she is 17.1 hh. He (sire Justify) is a very big horse himself. She is very well bred on the dam's side as well.

"She will get stronger, she is a bit weak at the moment. You can't beat class.

"She's very laid-back and we had a bit of a problem getting the stalls set for her, so I thought she would be badly away but she wasn't.

"I knew the way she travelled around into the straight she was going well, so I knew she would keep going at least.

"He (Seamie Heffernan) was (complimentary about her) - he thinks she has a bit of quality.

"I'd say so (put away now). We'll take tonight and see what happens."

Quotes from Michael Graham

1st
10/1
Tote €11.10 €3.10
2nd
1.75L
10/3
€1.40
3rd
nk
17/2
€1.90
4th
0.75L
15/2
bf
shd
3/1Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.